Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said Sunday that Congress must reconvene after the November election to debate a measure authorizing President Obama to use military force in the Middle East.
The California Democrat, appearing on “Face the Nation,” said the threat of several terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, will require Congress to address military authorization “on a more comprehensive basis” that deals with the threat Islamic terrorist groups pose to the United States.
Feinstein appeared alongside Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chair of the House Intelligence panel.
Show host Bob Scheiffer asked Rogers whether the threat of Islamic terrorists means that Congress should authorize the president to deploy U.S. combat troops.
Rogers said, “We shouldn’t take anything off our battle plans.”
A bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers are now clamoring for a larger debate on the use of U.S. military force in the Middle East, suggesting it could become the dominant issue when the House and Senate reconvene after the November elections.
Obama has ordered targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that he believes are authorized under military force authorization legislation passed in 2001 and 2002, but some lawmakers believe he needs new approval from Congress.
